An outrageous volleyed goal by Royal captain Malinda Gajanayaka on the stoke of full time downed an unfortunate yet resilient Thomian outfit at Kew Points Road.
Royal, who were second best to the Thomians for most parts of the match started off their campaign in group B of the Kotmale Chox School’s Football Championship on a positive note with this hard fought 1-0 win. The Thomians had a host of opportunities to score throughout the match but poor finishing especially by Deshan Gonawela did not help their cause. While the missed chances by the Thomians kept Royal in the game, Thomian captain Avantha Elapatha led a solid defense from the center back position.
The lads from the school by the sea started off positively and their first opportunity came as early as in the 3rd minute when Dion Dias’ through ball sent Gonawela needing the goalkeeper to beat but his effort was straight at the on rushing Mushtaq Ramzi. A high backline and constant pressure by S.Thomas’ let Royal defender Yahiya Jaffer into losing the ball which sent Yohan Mendis down the left flank and his cross was headed just wide of the near post by Qaaeed Huzair.
Akhil Fernando was the fulcrum of the Thomian side as they outclassed the Royalists in the opening half. Akhil with his ball control, vision and the desire to dictate terms orchestrated attack after attack. He combined well with Dion Dias, Yohan Mendis and Huzair. The quartet dominated the midfield as Royal were made to chase shadows. The only effort on target for Royal came when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out after a foul committed on Naveen Jout. The free kick was sent over the cross bar.
Just after halftime Yohan Mendis who tormented the Royal right-back breezed past him towards the byline and his pin point cross to an unmarked Qaaeed Huzair inside the six yard box was turned over the cross bar for a goal kick much to the disbelief of the Thomian fans. It was a golden opportunity gone begging for the hosts to take the lead. Royal coming into the game had a long range effort by Naveen Jout in the 57th minute brilliantly turned around the post for a corner by a diving Thomian keeper P. Gunawardena. The resulting corner was headed over the bar. Gunawardena who had a tentative start grew in confidence as the match progressed and produced another save, this from a Malinda Gajanayaka effort.
If the Thomian fans thought they would witness far better finishing from the forwards, they were in for some added disappointment. Yohan Mendis who had a tireless game produced a sumptuous ball as he crossed the ball from the outside of his boot into the path of Gonawela who again was one on one with the goalkeeper and this time his effort going past the post. In the 67th minute Mendis crossed the ball into the six yard box and the Royal defense were able to clear the ball amidst the scramble and the counter attack saw Jout clean through on goal but a brilliant sliding tackle by Elapatha saved a certain goal.
As the match went on the lack of fitness started to show on the Thomians as they dropped deeper and deeper into their own half with a few players going down with cramps as well. The Thomian midfield crumbled with Akhil Fernando being one of the casualties of cramps. After making all their allotted substitutions S.Thomas’ lost another player due to injury and was forced to play with 10 men. Royal with renewed energy started to dominate play. Naveen Jout had his looping direct free kick brilliantly tipped over the bar Gunawardena.
With 10 minutes remaining S.Thomas’ had one last chance when a through ball by Akhil sent Gonawela with the goalkeeper to beat but again he couldn’t properly connect the ball and the ball harmlessly rolled over for a goal kick. In the 88th minute the hosts were reduced to 9 men when Nawfleen Ahamed who was the last defender was shown a straight red card when he fouled Jout just outside the box. Skipper Malinda added salt to the injuries of the Thomians in the 90th minute when he volleyed the ball from 12 yards out over a helpless keeper into the goal to the sheer jubilation of the Royal camp. A dejected looking Thomians bunch was reduced to their knees as they were left to rue the host of missed opportunities.
